Democrat Barack Obama returned Tuesday night to the Denver venue where in 2008 he was nominated for president amid a national backlash against Republicans.

Obama received a cold greeting from Mother Nature at Buckley Air Force Base. Heavy rain and 40-degree temperatures left little time for pleasantries as supporters, media and Obama himself ran for cover from the elements.

After being delayed briefly by rain, Air Force One touched down at Buckley at 6:22 p.m.

The president was welcomed first by Col. Tracey Hayes, vice commander of the 460th Space Wing at Buckley, and then by Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Obama jogged across the tarmac to greet about 40 soaked supporters before ducking into the presidential limo destined for downtown, where he attended two fundraisers at the Pepsi Center, site of the last Democratic National Convention.

Hickenlooper, who introduced the president, noted: The election “is going to be a long, a hard, difficult battle, but one we can win.”

Obama said of his Pepsi Center return: “It is great to be back in Denver. I’ve got some fond memories here.”

This time around, Obama finds himself countering an anti-Washington mood that includes his own performance.

It was at the Pepsi Center that Obama’s wife, Michelle, talked about growing up on Chicago’s South Side.

It’s where one-time rival Hillary Rodham Clinton got a big laugh when she mentioned the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits.”

Obama was to stay in Denver overnight and give a speech this morning at the Auraria Event Center.

Benefits from the fundraisers went to the Obama Victory Fund, a committee that supports the president’s re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

During his swing West, Obama also stopped in Nevada and California.

Monday night, Obama was at a star-studded fundraiser at a home in Los Angeles.

“Actor Will Smith, looking dapper in a three-piece suit, stood near the back of the room and watched. Boston Celtics nemesis Magic Johnson sat at a table to the president’s right,” according to the pool report of the event.

“The president talked about his new mortgage refinance program and said consumers who refinance at lower rates would then have more money to ‘shop, go to Will’s movies and patronize Magic’s businesses.’ “

Smith and Johnson laughed.

Denver Post staff writer Weston Gentry and the White House press pool contributed to this report.

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